But Rovers' Derrick Williams saw red for deliberate handball before Wilson headed in a corner right at the death.

Late drama favours Cherries

Bournemouth have taken more points from losing positions than any other Premier League side since the start of the 2017-18 season, and they needed another late show to overcome their Championship opponents.

After Armstrong's equaliser, the tie had looked destined to be settled by penalties - as was the last League Cup meeting between the sides, a 3-3 epic at Ewood Park when the current Cherries boss Eddie Howe scored the decisive penalty in the shootout.

Having made nine changes from their last league XI, the hosts threw on their Premier League strikeforce - Wilson and ex-Blackburn man Joshua King - as they chased the game, but Rovers goalkeeper David Raya, and the woodwork, kept out the waves of red and black attackers.

After four minutes of stoppage time were signalled, penalties were looming when Wilson burst forward, attempting to shrug off Williams - only for the Blackburn defender to deliberately pick the ball up to deny Wilson an unchallenged one-on-one run at the keeper.

Williams, and Rovers, had few complaints when the inevitable red card followed - but there was still enough time for substitute Marc Pugh to swing in a corner which Wilson headed across Raya and into the net to send the home fans home happy.

A 'blessing in disguise' for Blackburn?

Blackburn made six changes to the starting line-up but it didn't quite pay off

Facing seven games in 21 days, Rovers boss Tony Mowbray had signalled his intentions to prioritise the Championship, making six changes - with top scorer Bradley Dack and striker Danny Graham among the absentees not making the long trip to Dorset.

"I'm not overly concerned about the Carabao Cup, we left our front five at home ready for the weekend," Mowbray explained.

"It might be a blessing in disguise to be out of this competition and we can concentrate on our league games."

After Mowbray lined up his side with debutant Jack Rodwell - the ex-Sunderland man had not played a first-team game for over a year - in a five-man midfield, and Armstrong as the lone striker, the visitors were indebted to Raya for keeping them in the tie.

The Spaniard brilliantly saved twice from Jermain Defoe with the score at 1-0, and though Rovers were unhappy with the award of Ibe's penalty, the game looked done and dusted at 2-0.

Yet the Cherries' £25m record signing Jefferson Lerma was caught in possession allowing Conway to get one back, and Armstrong's equaliser from 12 yards gave them hope of an upset - or the lottery of a shootout.

But ultimately, the Lancastrians were left with nothing to show for their spirited comeback.

'It was never a penalty' - what they said

Eddie Howe admitted he has "some tough selection calls to make" after Lewis Cook put in an impressive performance

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "Only we could do that to ourselves tonight. We created so many chances, went 2-0 up and thought we could enjoy the last part of the game but suddenly we shot ourselves in the foot twice.

"But that's where I have to credit the players again - sometimes we get ourselves out of that hole because of the attitude we show. Junior [Stanislas] will be delighted with his goal, it's been an impressive comeback from him and it was a superb goal. Typical Junior, he's excellent technically.

"We desperately needed a performance after Burnley [Saturday's 4-0 loss], so I placed great importance on the game."

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray: "I thought we did OK against an established Premier League side with a £25m central midfielder and acquitted ourselves well. Their penalty was a shocking decision, it was never a penalty in a million years but it's in the history books now.

"That's football. Let's get on the bus and get home. Jack Rodwell did fine and he'll only get stronger. At the moment he won't get in our team but he has to try and compete [for a place]."

Man of the match - Junior Stanislas

Making his first start since March because of injury, the ex-Burnley midfielder tormented his old club's rivals for the 69 minutes he was on the field. Coming in off the flank, was at the heart of many of Bournemouth's best moves

The best of the stats

Junior Stanislas has scored in three of his last four starts for Bournemouth in all competitions.

Blackburn's last four away League Cup ties against Premier League opposition have produced 27 goals (10 scored, 17 conceded), though they've lost all four games.